Evaluative Concerns Research Articles

Believing that failure is essential: failure-is-enhancing mindset mediates the relationship of perfectionism and academic engagement

ABSTRACT Objective The present study aimed to (1) to determine how the two dimensions of perfectionism – perfectionistic strivings (PS) and evaluative concerns (EC) are associated with academic engagement and (2) to determine if failure mindset mediates the relationship between perfectionism and academic engagement. Method Four hundred and forty-eight Filipino undergraduate students with an average age of 20.91 SD = 2.37participated in the survey. Results The results indicate that PS is positively linked to academic engagement through failure-is-enhancing beliefs. In contrast, EC is associated with lower academic engagement through a reduced failure-is-enhancing mindset. Conclusion This study provides evidence that believing that failure is essential rather than unhelpful is an important factor in predicting academic engagement among perfectionists. Specifically, it was found that having high PS promotes the belief that failures are important in learning, while the opposite pattern was observed among those high in EC. This supports the view that perfectionism has an adaptive and a maladaptive side.

My perfectionism drives me to be a cyborg: moderating role of internal locus of control on propensity towards memory implant

ABSTRACT Intention to use memory implants for non-therapeutic purposes has recently received attention among researchers. The present study examined perfectionism with two dimensions namely personal standards (PS) and evaluative concerns (EC) as possible dispositional factors associated with the intent to use memory implants. This study also examined the moderating role of internal locus of control (LOC) on the relationship between the dimensions of perfectionism and the intention to use memory implants. Employing a cross-sectional design, this study collected data on PS, EC, internal LOC and intention to use memory implants from a purposive sample of 686 Spanish university students aged between 18 and 28 years old (M = 21.88, SD = 2.40, males = 361, females = 325). Results showed that both PS and EC perfectionism have positive relationships with the intent to use memory implants. Internal LOC is also found to be strengthening the relationship between PS and the intent to use memory implants. These findings yield implications for those pushing forward the acceptance of human–machine hybrid and for those concerned about the detrimental consequences of such artificially formulated changes in humankind.

Are Perfectionistic Standards Associated with Burnout? Multidimensional Perfectionism and Compassion Experiences Among Professional MFTs.

The current study addressed the role that perfectionism plays among professionals in this field of marriage and family therapy (MFT). Specifically, this study provides information about PS (personal standards) perfectionism and EC (evaluative concerns) and their relationship with both compassion satisfaction and compassion fatigue. The sample included 247 marriage and family therapists who answered demographic questions along with completing the professional quality of life scale (ProQOL; as reported by Stamm, B. H. (2009). Professional Quality of Life: Compassion Satisfaction and Fatigue Version 5 (ProQOL). Retrieved from http://www.proqol.org/ProQol_Test.html; Stamm in The concise ProQOL manual, ProQOL.org, 2010;) and the multidimensional perfectionism scale (MPS; Hewitt and Flett, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 60:456–470, 1991). Results indicated three significant findings: (1) higher levels of both self-oriented and socially oriented perfectionism are correlated with higher levels of both burnout and secondary traumatic stress; (2) as years of work as an MFT increase, level of burnout decreases; and (3) women demonstrated statistically significantly higher scores in PS perfectionism than men. Limitations, implications, and future directions are discussed.

Evaluative concerns perfectionism and coping with failure: Effects on rumination, avoidance, and acceptance

Previous research documented associations between evaluative concerns (EC) perfectionism and emotion-focused coping. However, most research was correlational in nature. The present study, therefore, aimed to investigate the relation between EC perfectionism and 3 types of emotion-focused coping in response to experimentally-induced failure. Participants were 72 young adults (Mage=21.81; SD=6.44) who took part in a tangram puzzle task and who were assigned to either a failure or success condition. A week after the experimental session, we assessed participants' coping reaction to the failure experience with an online questionnaire tapping into rumination, avoidance, and acceptance of the experience. Results showed that EC perfectionism interacted with the experimental manipulation, such that only individuals high on EC perfectionism displayed more rumination and less acceptance after failure (compared to after success). Additionally, individuals with heightened levels of EC perfectionism reported higher levels of avoidance, regardless of the experimental condition. This study yielded experimental confirmation that individuals high on EC perfectionism are more at risk for rumination about and low acceptance of a failure experience.

Perfectionism, cognitive emotion regulation and perceived distress/coping

IntroductionPerfectionism and cognitive emotion regulation (CER) mechanisms have been associated with perceived stress/coping, negative affect (NA) and mental problems. Comparatively, the correlates of Positive Affect (PA) have been less studied.AimTo compare Perfectionism, CER and Perceived distress/coping by groups with different levels of NA/PA.MethodsA total of 344 medical students (68.4% girls) completed the Hewitt & Flett and the Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scales (H&F-MPS/F-MPS), the Profile of Mood States, the Perceived Stress Scale, and the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire.ResultsThe subjects with high NA, when compared to those with low NA, showed significant higher levels of Evaluative Concerns (EC), Positive Striving (PStr), of H&F-MPS/F-MPS total and dimensions scores (excluding Organization) of Rumination, Blaming others, Self-blaming, Catastrophizing and Perceived distress (all P < 0.01). They also revealed lower levels of Positive reevaluation and planning; Positive refocusing, Putting into perspective and Perceived coping (all P < 0.01). The subjects with high and medium levels of PA, when compared to the subjects with low PA, showed significant lower levels of Perceived distress, EC, Socially-Prescribed Perfectionism, Doubts about action, Concerns over Mistakes, (all P < 0.01), Self-Oriented Perfectionism, PStr (P < 0.01, P < 0.05, respectively) and higher levels of Perceived coping, Positive reevaluation and planning, Positive refocusing, Putting into perspective (all P < 0.01) and Acceptance (P < 0.01, P < 0.05, respectively).ConclusionsNA is associated with perfectionism, high maladaptive and low adaptive CER, and also with high Perceived distress/low coping, which might increase the subject's vulnerability to psychopathology. Low perfectionism, high adaptive CER and perceived coping are associated with PA and might be protective factors.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Repetitive negative thinking mediates the association between perfectionism and psychological distress

Our objective was to analyze the relationships between Repetitive negative thinking (RNT), perfectionism and psychological distress. Specifically we wanted to test if RNT mediates the relationship between perfectionism and psychological distress. 788 college students completed self-report questionnaires to evaluate perfectionism trait dimensions [Evaluative concerns (EC) and Positive strivings (PS)], RNT dimensions [Repetitive thinking (RT) and Cognitive interference and unproductivity (CIU)], perceived stress, and perceived support. Psychological distress was measured with the Profile of Mood States subscales: Depression (D), Tension–anxiety (TA), Anger–hostility (AH), Fatigue–inertia (FI) and Vigor–anxiety (VA). After controlling for perceived stress and support, perfectionism dimensions and RNT (particularly CIU) remained a significant predictors of psychological distress. CIU was a partial mediator of the relationship between EC and D, TA, AH, FI and VA and a full mediator of the relationship of PS with D and FI. Whereas the effect of negative perfectionism on emotional disturbances was potentiated by RNT, PS was only associated to it when high levels of RNT were also present. Showing that Positive striving effects on psychological distress may be a function of specific mediators, these results contribute to a better understanding of the nature of positive perfectionism.

Daily fluctuations in perfectionism dimensions and their relation to eating disorder symptoms

Multidimensional perfectionism has been shown to play an important role in eating disorders (EDs). However, research examining this relation has primarily focused on relatively stable inter-individual differences between persons, thereby failing to examine how these variables are associated within individuals on a daily basis. This study examines how daily fluctuations in Personal Standards (PS) perfectionism and Evaluative Concerns (EC) perfectionism relate to each other and to fluctuations in ED symptoms. Adolescents (N=275) completed questionnaires each evening during seven consecutive days. Multilevel modeling showed significant day-to-day fluctuations in PS and EC perfectionism, and showed that both dimensions are intertwined in the day. Among females, fluctuations in EC perfectionism co-varied with fluctuations in ED symptoms.

Perfectionistic Thoughts, Personal Standards, and Evaluative Concerns: Further Investigating Relationships to Psychological Distress

This study investigated relationships between perfectionism and psychological distress in a sample of first year college students further divided between those who were enrolled in an honors curriculum (n = 60) and those who were not (n = 53). Participants completed the Perfectionism Cognitions Inventory (PCI), the Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (MPS), and the profile of mood states (POMS) at the start of the semester and then again 6 weeks later. Results revealed that one dimension of the MPS—maladaptive evaluative concerns (EC)—was positively associated with tension-anxiety and depression-dejection scores, while a second factor—pure personal standards (PS)—was negatively related to distress after extraneous variance was removed. Perfectionism cognitions as measured by the PCI either fully or partially mediated most relationships. Honors students reported higher personal standards than did controls, a difference that was consistent at 6-week follow-up.

Are Maladaptive Schema Domains and Perfectionism Related to Body Image Concerns in Eating Disorder Patients?

Both maladaptive schemas (MS) and perfectionism have been associated with eating pathology. However, previous research has not examined these variables simultaneously and has not studied possible mediating relationships between MS and multidimensional perfectionism for body image concerns in eating disorder (ED) patients. Eighty-eight female ED patients completed the Young Schema Questionnaire, the Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale, and the Body Attitude Test. Body image concerns were found to be positively related to Personal Standards (PS) and Evaluative Concerns (EC) perfectionism and all five schema domains. PS Perfectionism was positively associated with Disconnection, Other-directedness, and Overvigilance. EC Perfectionism was positively related to Disconnection, Impaired Autonomy, Other-directedness, and Overvigilance. Moreover, EC perfectionism was found to be a significant mediator in the relationship between the schema domains Impaired Autonomy and Overvigilance and body image concerns. These findings denote the importance to address both core beliefs and perfectionism in ED treatment.

Perfectionism Dimensions and the Five–factor Model of Personality

This study of university students ( n = 357) and community adults ( n = 223) examined personal standards (PS) and evaluative concerns (EC) higher–order dimensions of perfectionism that underlie several measures from three different theoretical frameworks. In both students and community adults, confirmatory factor analyses supported PS perfectionism and EC perfectionism higher–order latent factors. In relation to the revised NEO Personality Inventory, PS perfectionism was primarily related to conscientiousness and achievement striving. In contrast, EC perfectionism was primarily related to neuroticism, and lower positive emotions, trust and competence. EC perfectionism accounted for unique variance in current depressive and anxious symptoms over and above the five–factor domain scores. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Perfectionism, Body Dissatisfaction, and Bulimic Symptoms: The Intervening Role of Perceived Pressure to be Thin and Thin Ideal Internalization

Mounting evidence suggests that perfectionism contributes to the development and maintenance of eating disorder (ED) symptoms. Research adopting a multidimensional conceptualization of perfectionism has shown evaluative concerns (EC) perfectionism to be more strongly associated with ED pathology compared to personal standards (PS) perfectionism. However, less research has addressed the underlying mechanisms accounting for these relations. Based on the sociocultural theory, the aim of this study was to examine perceived pressure to be thin and thin ideal internalization as intervening variables through which PS and EC perfectionism could relate to body dissatisfaction and bulimic symptoms. A total of 559 adolescents (59% female; mean age = 13.9 years) participated in a three-wave longitudinal study. Structural equation modeling (SEM) analyses showed that EC perfectionism and PS perfectionism were related differentially to the intervening variables, with EC perfectionism being primarily related to perceived pressure to be thin and with PS perfectionism being primarily related to thin ideal internalization. Further, whereas EC perfectionism was related to increases in bulimic symptoms both directly and indirectly, PS perfectionism was only indirectly related to body dissatisfaction and bulimic symptoms through the sociocultural variables.

An empirical typology of perfectionism in early-to-mid adolescents and its relation with eating disorder symptoms

Although the association between perfectionism and eating disorder (ED) symptoms is well-established, debate remains about the relative contribution of two central dimensions of perfectionism, that is, Personal Standards (PS) perfectionism and Evaluative Concerns (EC) perfectionism, in the prediction of ED symptoms. This study used cluster analysis to establish naturally occurring combinations of PS and EC perfectionism in early-to-mid adolescents (N = 656; M age = 13.9 years). Evidence was obtained for four perfectionism profiles: (1) maladaptive perfectionism (high PS and high EC), (2) pure evaluative concerns perfectionism (high EC only), (3) adaptive perfectionism (high PS, low EC), and (4) non-perfectionism (low on both PS and EC). A comparison of participants in these four clusters in terms of ED symptoms suggests that a combination of high personal standards and evaluative concerns (rather than the presence of one of these two dimensions alone) is most strongly related to ED symptoms.

Evaluative Concerns and Personal Standards Perfectionism: Self-esteem as a Mediator and Moderator of Relations with Personal and Academic Needs and Estimated GPA

We examined the mediational role of self-esteem in the relation between evaluative concerns (EC) and personal standards (PS) perfectionism, and measures of personal concerns, academic concerns, and estimated grade point average (EGPA) in 386 university students. Self-esteem partially mediated the relation between EC perfectionism and students’ personal and academic concerns. EC perfectionism was a weak predictor of EGPA. PS perfectionism was not related to academic concerns. Although PS was associated with personal concerns both directly and indirectly through low levels of self-esteem in women only, these findings did not hold when controlling for EC perfectionism. PS perfectionism had a direct positive relation with EGPA. Neither PS nor EC perfectionism interacted with self-esteem to predict unique variance in personal or academic concerns or EGPA. The results are consistent with our view that a perfectionism dimension that is primarily maladaptive can be distinguished from a dimension that can be adaptive. The implications for research and treatment are considered.

Research On the Utilization of Evaluations

An area of concernfor evaluation research is the extent to which evaluations are utilized in policy and program development and change. The current review critically discusses definition of utilization and methodsfor detecting utilization. Five "clusters" of variables have been found to affect utilization. These are: (1) the relevance of evaluation to the needs of potential users; (2) extent of communication between potential users and producers of evaluations; (3) translation of evaluations into their implicationsforpolicy and programs; (4) credibility or trust placed in evaluations; and (5) commitment or advocacy by individual users.